Arts & Museums

The Apple Trees Museum, housed in a section of the old Charles Perkins home, hold the Moines County Historical Society's collection of Burlington memorabilia, Native American artifacts and other displays. The Apple Trees Museum is open May through October from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Open May through September, the North Lee County Historical Museum is located in the Mission Revival-style Old Santa Fe Depot, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This museum offers exhibits on Fort Madison and railroad history, the Civil War, flood of 1993, and farming.

Housed in the renovated Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Passenger Depot, the Fort Madison Art Center features fine art exhibits and a sales gallery that carries works from over 35 local artists.

Opened in 1969, the the University of Iowa Museum of Art or UIMA as it is shortly known, is in the forefront of educational programs and research, frequently organizing lectures and field trips for students. Housing in it close to 12,400 exhibits spanning across jewelry, paintings, lithographs, photographs, textiles, prints, ceramics etc, you will need some time on your hands to fully explore every corner. Pre-Columbian, Roman, Afro and Native American exhibits are well-represented too. Check website for details on upcoming exhibitions and events.

Experience more than 100 years of athletic excellence and history while at this hall of fame that features interactive displays and presentations, as well as Nile Kinnick's 1939 Heisman Trophy, the winning softball pitched by Iowa's undefeated 1997 Big Ten championship team, and all the trophies brought home by the Hawks' NCAA Wrestling championship teams.

Established in 1858, the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History promises you a walk through 500 million years of history. Visitors are fascinated by the State of Iowa's surprisingly rich collection of ecological, geological and cultural treasures. Birds and mammals fossils have been meticulously preserved over the centuries, while the rock collection is as stunning. This museum often organizes educational and recreational programs for families and children such as nature walks, pottery workshops etc. On your way out, pick up some minerals, rocks, plastic animals and other interesting souvenirs.

Located in West Branch, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is dedicated to Herbert Hoover, the 31 st president of the United States. It sits on the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and has an extensive collection of books from the life and times of only president from Iowa. Spread over an area of 44,500 square feet, it has an auditorium, a conference room and a private meeting room. It also has a permanent gallery exhibiting artifacts from the life of the president as well as another gallery with temporary exhibits of American history. Guided tours of the facility are available. Check the website for more information.